Page 73 of Wagering for Miss Blake (Lords and Ladies in Love 4)

Her words had his blood racing south. How he wanted to pick her up and carry her to her bed, remove her nightgown, kiss every sweet inch of her body, before taking her completely.

“Ah, darling.” He smoothed back the curls that had escaped from the braid hanging down her back. “I don’t want to leave, trust me on this, but we shall do this right.” With another kiss that almost made him change his mind, he took her hand. They slipped out her bedchamber door and hurried down the back stairs.

He closed the door behind him and listened for the sound of the lock engaging. Once he knew she was safe inside, he left, much happier than when he’d arrived.

…

Early the next afternoon, Giles prepared for the most important meeting of his life. He intended to secure both Mr. and Mrs. Blake’s approval. He would work hard at it, taking however much time was necessary. No longer expecting things to go his way simply because they always had, he was going into battle for the woman he loved.

With no intention of having a marriage where there was animosity between him and his in-laws, he would earn their respect and approval.

He tugged on the cuffs of his jacket and dropped the knocker on the front door of the Montford Townhouse. The door immediately opened, and the butler stepped back. “Good afternoon, Mr. Templeton. I believe Mr. Blake awaits you in the library.”

Giles raised his brows. Mr. Blake awaited him? Was that good news, or bad? Before he had too much time to dwell on it, he found himself entering the library behind the butler. Mr. Blake stood and walked toward him extending his hand. “Good afternoon, Mr. Templeton.”

Giles looked around the room, but there was no one else present except him. Dear God, hopefully they hadn’t already sent Suzanna away!

He took the seat that Mr. Blake indicated next to the fireplace. “Would you care for refreshments?”

“No. Thank you.” Since his reception was a bit of a surprise, a glass of brandy would be welcomed, but that would certainly make a poor impression.

Mr. Blake leaned back in his chair. “I assume you are wondering how I knew you were expected?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Mrs. Blake never partakes of breakfast. She prefers a tray in her room closer to noon.” He stopped and regarded Giles as if he expected him to respond. What was one supposed to say to that? So, he merely nodded, hoping the man would continue.

“Consequently, Suzanna and I have breakfast alone most days. Lady Montford sometimes joins us, as well as Lord Montford. They did not today.”

Mr. Blake did not seem to be nearing his dotage, so Giles assumed he was eventually going to come to the point and not just comment on the eating habits of the Montford household.

“My daughter and I had an interesting conversation this morning at breakfast.”

His muscles tightened. At last, the man was going to address the question of why he’d been expected. Again he nodded, to show he heard the man, even though he had no idea what, if any, retort he was expecting.

“I sometime enjoy a warm glass of milk if I cannot sleep.”

Uh, oh. Giles now went on alert at the mention of not sleeping. Eventually, he was sure Mr. Blake would tie all these random observations together and most likely hang Giles by his bollocks. Or order him out of the house to meet at dawn with his second.

“I find a brandy before bed helps me sleep.” Giles felt he should contribute something to the surreal conversation, instead of sitting there like a lump of coal. If he was going to be run off the place, and most likely banned for life, he might as well speak up.

Before Giles could gather another intelligent thought, Mr. Blake continued. “So, it was with a great deal of surprise when I went to the kitchen last evening and found you and my daughter tip-toeing down the corridor, past the kitchen to the back door. And then, you slipped out the door, and she locked it.”

Giles tamped down the need to run his finger along the inside of his cravat. Maybe level-headed Cam could be his second and talk the man out of a duel. Giles was an excellent shot and killing Suzanna’s father would not be the best way to start their marriage.

Mr. Blake sat back, resting his arms on the softly padded armrest. His bland expression was worse than if he’d looked enraged. “Perhaps you can enlighten me as to why you were in the house last night after we had all retired for the evening?”

…

Suzanna tossed aside the book she was pretending to read. She’d heard Giles arrive, and could only guess what he was going through with Father. She’d been stunned when Father had casually mentioned at breakfast that he hoped she had enjoyed her visit with Mr. Templeton late the night before.

It had taken all her control to not bring back up the breakfast she had just swallowed. “Whatever do you mean, Father?” She did not think for one minute that Father would fall for her innocent act, but she needed time to gather her thoughts.

He merely raised one eyebrow. How does he do that?

“I assume you saw us?”

He nodded. And waited. Suzanna panicked.